BACKGROUND
Winrock International (WI) works with people around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. Winrock is currently implementing the USAID-funded Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Activity (‘Extension Activity’). The aim of the Extension Activity is to increase the productivity, incomes, and household nutrition status of 2 million smallholder farmers in Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna, Benue, Ebonyi, Cross-River, and Delta. The project focuses on aquaculture, cowpea, maize, rice, and soybean value chains.
The Extension Activity requires the services of a Business Development Services (BDS) Specialist. The Business Development Services Specialist will contribute to building the capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and their cohorts to provide inputs and extension services to smallholder farmers.
Location: Nigeria
Career category: Program/Project Management
Years of experience: 10+ years
Themes: Agriculture/ Food and Nutrition
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The BDS Specialist will undertake the following specific responsibilities:
• Work alongside the Private Sector Specialist to identify and strengthen private sector service providers based on their respective strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.
• Prepare capacity building modules and use them to provide capacity building training to the MSMEs.
• Coordinate BDS capacity building for MSME cohort members.
• Classify the present MSMEs into strong, moderate, and weak and come up with business development support for each category of the MSMEs to grow their businesses.
• Identify and apply business development tools to help MSMEs become more profitable and sustainable as well as grow/expand their businesses.
• Identify and analyze lessons learned and MSME successes stories, build on the lessons to enhance the performance of the MSMEs.
• Champion the scaling of successful business models for the MSMEs.
• Identify innovative business development models to scale the performance of Extension Activity and in particular farmers’ outreach.
EDUCATION
Master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, agribusiness, or other related discipline
EXPERIENCE
• At least ten years of progressive experience in business development services is required. USAID experience is preferred.
• Extensive experience working with MSMEs and private sector in agriculture and agribusiness in Nigeria
• Experience working with women and youth
• Proven team leadership and good communication skills
REPORTS TO: Deputy Chief of Party
How to apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CVs and Cover Letters as one document to amarachi.agu@winrock.org addressing the position requirements.
All applications should be labelled with the subject line: Business Development Services Specialist
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS: September 8, 2023
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.